Hay River (Aug 14/06) -In September, the Territorial Farmers Association (TFA) will host what will be the largest agricultural conference ever held in the NWT.

The Pan-North American Circumpolar Agriculture Conference will be held in Hay River on Sept. 11 and 12.

Experts and their topics: Otto Goulding, the director of policy and program research with the Department of Natural Resources in Newfoundland and Labrador, who will speak on the Circumpolar Agriculture Association and its 2007 meeting. Edmonton's David Beckman, former director of the Yukon Agriculture Branch, on the history and development of the Circumpolar Agriculture Association. High Level's Gary Johnson, project manager, and Clark McAskile, vice-chair, of the Regional Economic Development Initiative of Northwest Alberta. Ontario's Wayne Knox, who will speak on agri-food marketing using the Internet. Dr. Jim Stickney of Manning, Alta., on the operations of a mobile veterinary clinic. Saskatoon's Ross Weiss, who will address pest management in light of climate change.

"We're expecting between 100 to 175 people," said Evellyn Coleman, the executive director of the TFA.

Along with NWT farmers, people are expected to attend from Nunavut, Yukon, Alaska, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Invitations have also been sent to farmers in the northern regions of the western provinces, Ontario and Quebec.

The objectives of the conference are two-fold.

The first is to promote agricultural possibilities in northern regions of the continent.

Secondly, to generate interest in the Circumpolar Agriculture Association, an international group promoting farming in the North.

It will also serve as a lead-up to the International Circumpolar Agriculture Conference, which will be held in Happy Valley/Goose Bay, Labrador, in the fall of 2007.

The theme for the Hay River conference will be "Changing Times in Northern Agriculture."

"We'll be looking at ways people can stay ahead of new technology," Coleman said.

She is hoping many NWT farmers will participate in the free conference.